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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Virginia

10 Colleges in the United States
2,264 Criminal Justice Studies Degrees Awarded
$42,307 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools to find the best for criminal justice studies students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies in Virginia

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the criminal justice studies degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice Studies

1

No school ranked higher than University Of Virginia Main Campus this year for criminal justice studies. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 594 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at University Of Virginia Main Campus

2

A rank of #2 makes George Mason University one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $49,815. Typical student debt for the program is $20,761. Get the full criminal justice studies details for George Mason University

3
Radford University crest
Radford University
Radford, VA

Radford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #3. Radford University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Radford. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. There were roughly 82 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Radford University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Radford University earn a median of $35,935 early in their careers. Radford University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Radford University

4
Roanoke College crest
Roanoke College
Salem, VA

Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at Roanoke College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Salem, Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 17 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Roanoke College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $33,725 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Roanoke College

5
Longwood University crest
Longwood University
Farmville, VA

Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at Longwood University, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 31 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Longwood University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Longwood University generally make around $36,254. Students borrow a median of $23,375 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Longwood University

6
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA

Liberty University came in at #6 for criminal justice studies this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,196 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Liberty University earn around $49,329 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,323. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Liberty University

7

Northern Virginia Community College earned the #7 position for criminal justice studies this year. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. Northern Virginia Community College awarded about 154 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $40,126 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,999 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Northern Virginia Community College

8
Bluefield College crest
Bluefield College
Bluefield, VA

Bluefield College placed #8 among the best criminal justice studies schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Bluefield. About 18% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Bluefield College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Bluefield College earn a median of $41,005 early in their careers. Bluefield College graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Bluefield College

9
Virginia Wesleyan College crest
Virginia Wesleyan College
Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Wesleyan College earned the #9 position for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Virginia Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. Virginia Wesleyan College awarded about 14 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Virginia Wesleyan College earn around $39,404 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Wesleyan College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Virginia Wesleyan College

10
Ecpi University crest
Ecpi University
Virginia Beach, VA

Ecpi University placed #10 among the best criminal justice studies schools. This large private for-profit university is located in the city of Virginia Beach. Ecpi University graduates 28% of students within six years. Ecpi University awarded about 55 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Ecpi University earn around $36,287 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,903 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Ecpi University

11

Virginia State University earned the #11 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Petersburg, Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 39% of students finish within six years. Virginia State University awarded about 56 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Virginia State University earn around $34,604 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Virginia State University

12
Ferrum College crest
Ferrum College
Ferrum, VA

Ferrum College placed #12 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the rural area of Ferrum, Ferrum College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Ferrum College graduates 32% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Ferrum College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $42,080 in their early career. Ferrum College graduates carry a median of $29,500 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Ferrum College

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 14 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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